Republicans bore the brunt of public criticism for the federal government shutdown in 1995, but a new poll says both parties would share the blame if it happens again this year, Jon Cohen and Paul Kane report at the Washington Post.
Thirty-six percent say Republicans would be at fault if the two sides cannot reach a budget deal to avert a stoppage of government services, according to the poll conducted with the Pew Research Center, and 35 percent say with the Obama administration would be to blame.
A similar poll taken shortly before the three-week government shutdown in 1995 found 46 percent blaming House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Congressional Republicans versus 27 percent who blamed the administration of then-President Bill Clinton.